Show Applies To: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2 A project often consists of multiple activities, or tasks. A work breakdown structure (WBS) is a hierarchical representation of the tasks for a project. This topic explains how to create a WBS, add tasks to it, and add requirements and other information for each task. It also provides information about working with revenue and costs in a WBS, working with estimated and actual hours for tasks in a WBS, and working with a WBS in Microsoft Project. You can enter the following information for tasks in a WBS:
You can create a WBS manually or import tasks from another WBS or a WBS template.
Note This topic does not apply to versions of Microsoft Dynamics AX prior to cumulative update 7 for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2. If you are using an earlier version of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, see Work breakdown structure (form). PrerequisitesThe following table shows the prerequisites that must be in place before you start. Manually create a WBS for a projectYou can create a WBS for a specific project by starting with a blank WBS form. To create a WBS for a project, follow these steps:
Import tasks into a WBSYou can import tasks from a WBS for one project into the WBS for another project. You can also import tasks from a WBS template into the WBS for a specific project. For information about how to create a WBS template, see Create a work breakdown structure template for projects.
Important When you import tasks from another project’s WBS or from a WBS template, all of the tasks are imported. After you import tasks, you can delete any tasks that are not applicable to the current project. To import tasks into a WBS, follow these steps:
Organize tasks in a WBSAs work on a project progresses, you can modify the sequence of tasks, modify the predecessor tasks, and change the level for a task. For example, you might import tasks from another project, and then decide that an imported subtask is a major first step in the current project. You can elevate the subtask to a higher level in the hierarchy to make it a task, move it up in the sequence of tasks, and then modify the predecessors for it. To organize tasks in a WBS, follow these steps:
Find and resolve scheduling conflicts in a WBSWhen you enter dates and hours for tasks, the information that you enter might result in scheduling conflicts. You can manually change the effort, dates, and duration for tasks to resolve scheduling conflicts or you can let the system automatically identify and resolve them. By default, the system is set to identify and correct scheduling conflicts as you enter information for tasks. To use the automatic scheduling assistance for a WBS, follow these steps:
To disable automatic scheduling assistance and manually resolve scheduling conflicts, follow these steps:
Work with estimated and actual revenue and costs in a WBSWhen you select a project category for a task, and the sales price and cost per hour are specified for the project category, the price and cost amounts are automatically added to the WBS for the task. In the cost tracking view of a WBS, you can view a comparison between planned, estimated, and actual revenue and costs for a task. To compare planned, estimated, and actual revenue and costs for a task, follow these steps:
Work with estimated and actual hours for tasks in a WBSIn the WBS form, you can enter the estimated number of hours that are required to complete a task. When you enter estimated hours for tasks, the values are automatically added to fields in the effort tracking view of the WBS. To compare planned, estimated, and actual hours posted for a task, follow these steps:
Work with a WBS in Microsoft ProjectYou can create a link between a project in Microsoft Dynamics AX and a corresponding project in Microsoft Project. You can then use Microsoft Project to create or update the WBS of your project, and also create a WBS template that you can use in Microsoft Dynamics AX. You can also use Microsoft Project to replace the work breakdown structure of a project that is maintained in Microsoft Dynamics AX. For more information, see Create or update a project by using Microsoft Project. To update a WBS for a project that is integrated with Microsoft Project, follow these steps:
Note You can remove the link between a project in Microsoft Dynamics AX and Microsoft Project and work on the project’s WBS only in Microsoft Dynamics AX. To remove the link, in the Work breakdown structure, on the Action Pane, on the WBS tab, click Unlink from Microsoft Project. If you don't have access to the pages that are used to complete this task, contact your system administrator and provide the information that is shown in the following table.
See alsoAbout work breakdown structures Create a work breakdown structure template for projects Transfer work breakdown estimates to project forecasts |